Tag Archives: Joan Johnston

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I’ve heard the saying over and over . . . “if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” Always thought that saying was for the anal-retentive amongst us, and not for us creative types. I mean, who wants to be busy day in and day out? I was quite happy for a long time to hang back when the call for volunteers and help went out.

Success comes from getting the work done!

“Sorry, no can do. I’m in search of my Muse today.”

But then, I joined Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America. Life picked up and I was running around doing a lot of volunteer work. Still, there was no organization to my day. If something slipped I thought, “I’m not getting paid for this after all.” I simply let the guilt build up dust bunny castles in the corners of my mind until I finally got whatever project was on my mind done.

Today, I’m looking toward having full time work again. This is so cool! I’ll actually get a pay check (hopefully) in the next couple of months. No matter how small the check, I find work with pay a very self-validating experience. Ego boosting at its finest. Thing is, will there still be time to write?

Absolutely!

In fact, I think that work is just what the doctor ordered for the writer’s block I’ve been indulging in for far too long. When I wrote Faith on the Rocks, I was working full time as a vice president of marketing for a software company. And when I wrote Sliced Vegetarian, I had two or three clients that were keeping me busy full time. When those jobs stopped, I found myself doing a whole lot of busy work without getting anything done.

And then, this summer, I noticed something about the stars of publishing–they’re really busy doing what they do too.

I spoke with Desiree Holt, who writes about 17 (SEVENTEEN!) novels a year. She said she’s always excited to write and has projects in varying degrees of completeness going all of the time. When she meets an interesting person, she takes his or her picture and asks them personal questions about themselves. Her character driven erotica novels are rich with this constant level of input from the world around her.

But all of these writers, to the best of my knowledge, started by being busy in their “work lives” before becoming full time authors. Are you seeing trend here?

Creating ideas in a vacuum may not be the way to get things done. Sitting around looking for that perfect moment, when the light flows across your page in such a way that every good feeling abounds and the words flow like champaign on New Year’s eve, is for the birds. I believe the human experience is as much about what we soak up in a day as it is about how we digest our experiences and put them down in story for others to enjoy.

When you have a job, you make time to read (because we writers love the written word) and carve out that sacred hour a day for writing. You naturally become that busy person others admire or think of as an over-achiever. But don’t tell anyone that you wouldn’t want to be sitting in a quiet corner of your house, hoping your Muse will make a visit. That’s our secret.

I’m going back to work, and I couldn’t be more excited. I hope that having new experiences will help me become a better writer–or at least a more organized one.

Wishing you a productive week.

Thank you Michele W.

P.S. THANK YOU to Michele W. who sent this photo from her library. Ooh! I feel like a real author sometimes.

Last night, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers celebrated their newest inductee into the position of RMFW’s Writer of the Year (affectionately referred to as the WOTY). I think the way this program works, with a panel interview hosted by the current WOTY and including the other great writers considered for the award, is both honorable and fun. This is the second time I’ve had a chance to go to the event and it was great.

First, I have to chat about the venue. We met at the Tattered Cover on Colfax in Denver. I’ve been to some of TC’s other locations and this one lived up to the comparison. Books, books everywhere, and plenty of comfy chairs, writing tables, and friendly staff abounded. Sometimes I think that if you just walk into a well-run bookstore often enough, you become part of the atmosphere of writers, readers, thinkers, and wise people of all kinds. Heaven!

Do you like a good mystery? Shannon Baker may be the author for you. I’ve watched Shannon from afar for a few years, and with each passing engagement she becomes more impressive, perhaps even more confident. Shannon writes the Nora Abbot mystery series about an environmentalist with an appreciation for Native Americans and who seems to be haunted by a Hopi Kachina. The series has three books to date, and Shannon announced a new book series coming out fall of 2016.

Shannon has been a great representative for the RMFW Writer of the Year position and acted as the moderator for last night’s event. She did the job with grace and humor, asked the kinds of questions writers want asked of others who are successful and handed out a bundle of prizes to attendees.

Talk about abundance of talent! Cindi and Joan have between them written over 100 books with multiple millions of copies in print. While Joan was unable to join the panel last night, Cindi came with plenty of wit and wisdom for our group.

I was particularly impressed with the writing schedule Cindi says she sticks to–3,000 words of writing a day, five days a week. That kind of work led her to complete five novels and four novellas last year alone.

As a part of the WOTY selection committee this year, I had a chance to sample Rocky Mountain Rescue, and I can tell you I only wished I had more time to dive into the rest of it. And if you like historical fiction, Cindi also writes under the pen name, Cynthia Sterling.

Joan Johnston came into my life about seven years ago when she attended my critique group for a while. I didn’t know what a big-name author she was, and just enjoyed the dynamic personality who knew publishing in and out. I chatted with her about a couple of things and loaned her a book, and this generous person mentioned me in her next best seller, Outcast. It was my first time to be mentioned in a book, and that mention gave me all the inspiration to keep trying. Joan has been like a guardian angel since, popping in and out of my life at the best of times. Her book for the 2015 WOTY was Montana Bride, a great fun read.

Wow! Talk about impressive people. I first saw Susan at a Colorado Gold writing conference in 2013, when we were both on the First Sale Panel. She was so articulate and accomplished. Susan is a lawyer, lover of sea horses, marketing guru and all around great person to know. I’ve exchanged emails with her on several occasions and am always rewarded by her thoughtful commentary.

It’s no wonder that Susan would be acknowledged for her writing achievements. She sticks to writing seven days a week, travels extensively, is involved with a few writing groups, and is in the midst of producing three books in a single year.

Last night she said, “In 2002, I got serious. I looked at myself in the mirror and said, ‘You’re not getting any younger. Now is the time to write.'” And write she did. It took ten years and five rejected manuscripts, but in the end Susan found success with her Shinobi mystery series, set in 16th century Japan. At this point, Susan continues to write books of high calibur. Be sure to check her out when you’re looking for that next good read.